Questions tagged [weather]
Weather means atmospheric conditions including wind, temperature and precipitation, often in a specific area or at a specific time.
271
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2answers
107 views
What does NSC mean in a METAR?
Here's a METAR:
SCEL 090000Z 15005KT 5000 HZ NSC 10/08 Q1020 NOSIG
What does NSC mean?
17
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3answers
2k views
When do flights get cancelled due to fog?
When flights get cancelled due to fog, what triggers the cancellation? Fog is too thick, too wide-spread, blocks the view of tall buildings or other landmarks? Or is the problem the type of air ...
5
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1answer
87 views
What kind of input is used by NASA's TASAR?
I've found the Aviation SE to be a really interesting read so far, I'm excited to be here! I'm fairly new, but I'm also old!
What are the inputs for TASAR to crunch flight path optimization? Is it ...
0
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1answer
62 views
What the weather condition can affect for flight? [closed]
What is the most disturbing weather conditions for flight?
On another word: what more dangerous for takeoff/landing: wind, precipitation or something else?
0
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3answers
103 views
What does the future of the weather radars look like?
Planes had weather radars for a long time (Dassault Falcon and Learjet35A) which was useful since you either had to ask ATC, listen the ATIS frequency or ask the flight advisory before flight planning ...
6
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4answers
197 views
What is an “all-weather” aircraft?
I've read a few times that such-and-such a plane is an "all-weather" aircraft, for example:
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, carrier-capable, multirole ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
What are the duration of TAFs?
TAFs (terminal aerodrome forecast) have different durations. Some forecasts 30 hours into the future while others forecasts only 24 hours.
But what is the shortest and longest TAFs? and how often are ...
0
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2answers
258 views
What is the relation between clouds and radar effectiveness?
Recently, India's prime minister Narendra Modi commented on how cloudy weather can help a fighter jet escape from radar. Is there any technical reasoning to back these comments?
Here is the quote ...
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1answer
96 views
For an airport to be designated as an IFR alternate, does it have to have a TAF?
For an airport to be designated as an IFR alternate, does it have to have a terminal aerodrome forecast at the alternate airport to confirm that the forecast 600-2 and 800-2 will be in place at the ...
4
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1answer
221 views
Why is a small amount of smooth ice over the top of the wing more dangerous than an accumulation on the leading edge?
According to a Gleim study guide,
"Generally speaking, smooth ice on top of the wing is more dangerous than heavy accumulated icing on the leading edge."
Is this true? If this is true, why?
8
votes
1answer
696 views
Are there more accidents in winter months, and if so, why?
I was watching The Flight Channel videos and have noticed that the accidents seem to happen more often in winter months (for the Northern Hemisphere). Are there some statistics to back this claim?
It ...
2
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1answer
191 views
What is the meaning of R88/70D in this METAR from Ashgabat International airport?
The following METAR is from Ashgabat airport (UTAA)
UTAA 071300Z 13006KT 9999 FEW050CB BKN050 BKN100 15/06 Q1013 R88/70D
NOSIG
What does R88/70D mean, I couldn't find any references?
3
votes
1answer
155 views
Is navigation around thunderheads done at the pilot's discretion?
It's my understanding that if a pilot is flying over an ocean or otherwise uncontrolled airspace and they encounter a cumulonimbus, they navigate around it at their discretion.
How does this happen ...
3
votes
3answers
216 views
What is the purpose of including sea level pressure and temperature in a METAR?
In a METAR such as this one:
KGOK 161553Z AUTO 18011KT 4SM BR OVC007 07/05 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP201
T00670050
Translated to:
Jan 16, 1553Z, Automated. Mist, Wind from 180° at 11 knots, 4 statute
...
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vote
3answers
108 views
How is the effect of wind on arrival time handled?
If a commercial plane encounters strong tailwinds, would the pilots set the autopilot for a fixed arrival time (if that is possible), or would it be ok to arrive way ahead of schedule?
I imagine ...
3
votes
1answer
111 views
When is a high pressure system associated with IFR/MVFR conditions?
So I've read that typically high pressure systems bring good weather and clear skies. However, for the current high pressure system we're experiencing in central USA, we're having quite a bit of IFR/...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Can a SIGMET last less than initially forecasted?
Lets say I have a SIGMET that says VALID 310800/311200.
Is it possible that by 1100 the SIGMET would not be active anymore or it will always be valid until the published end time?
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3answers
284 views
Did AF447 cross dangerous weather?
question
Did the Air France 447 pilots endanger the passengers by not diverting around but flying straight through the weather system encountered and pictured below ? Or was this a defendable, ...
1
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1answer
254 views
When do pilots facing bad weather turn back (U-turn)?
Passenger aircraft are not supposed to cross red areas on the weather radar. But what if the weather system is too large to circumnavigate and red areas inside the system are too large/prevalent to ...
5
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3answers
146 views
Are winds that are not from the prevailing wind direction more often gusty, and why?
It seems to me that, looking at the ground weather forecasts (as opposed to, say, low level forecasts), it's far more common for the wind to be predicted to be significantly gusty when it is blowing ...
2
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3answers
331 views
How do pilots decide whether to circumnavigate bad weather?
How does an airline pilot decide in the air whether to circumnavigate or fly through bad weather visibly looming ahead and/or displayed on the weather radar ?
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0answers
61 views
What is the specific FAA regulation with regards to a pilot dropping jumpers into a solid cloud base? [duplicate]
What is the FAA regulation with regards to a pilot dropping jumpers into a solid cloud base? I saw some parachute jumpers come through a solid cloud layer with a base at around 1300 AGL. They landed ...
0
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1answer
181 views
Do any civilian aircraft use AESA or PESA for weather radar?
Are there any weather radars in civilian aircraft that uses active or passive array techniques? I know that the most of the radar used in the civilian aircraft use doppler effect and latest military ...
3
votes
1answer
282 views
What if the tower Is obstructed by clouds?
I know towers use radar to watch aircraft, obviously. But what about ground controllers? What if their view is obstructed by a low cloud level/fog?
Is there such a thing as ground-based traffic ...
0
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2answers
54 views
Remote access to Area Forecast Discussion
Is it possible to access Area Forecast Discussion via SMS? I fly to remote areas frequently (Wilderness), and after several days, it is almost impossible to get a good weather forecast, (one you're ...
3
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0answers
126 views
Diversions because of fog: What are the reasons?
It's fog season again around my local airport MUC (EDDM), and I have noticed a number of diversions recently. Some planes were holding a bit before attempting to land, performed a go around and then ...
2
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1answer
118 views
With wind, what will a perfectly circular flight path relative to the surrounding air look like from the ground? [duplicate]
Let's suppose that an airplane flying at a uniform airspeed follows a perfect, level, closed circular trajectory with respect to the mass of air. Now, seen from the ground, and in the presence of a ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
How long does a wind shear last?
I've got a job interview next week and the interviewer asked my colleagues this question. I didn't find the answer online, I personally don't think that there is a certain duration for a wind shear ...
0
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2answers
141 views
What should I look for in weather reports in order to pick a day for glider flying?
I understand weather can change unexpectedly, and local sky condition (e.g. cloud types) can't be predicted, but if I want to fly glider at a specific location, say, some time next week, and use ...
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3answers
731 views
Do IFR / VFR weather minimums include ceilings?
I'm not really sure how to ask my question, but there are classifications for weather conditions for MVFR, IFR, and LIFR. The FAA also has weather minimums for flying VFR in the different airspaces ...
6
votes
2answers
414 views
How did this air force plane likely get into the eye of Hurricane Florence? [duplicate]
The annotation for this CNN video says
Air Force plane flies into Hurricane Florence
Watch as a US Air Force plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Florence to collect weather data for the ...
3
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2answers
176 views
Is the size of hail on the ground any indication of the winds and updrafts of a thunderstorm?
Is there any rule of thumb or way to estimate the wind speeds or up and down drafts inside a storm by the size of hail that reaches the ground?
8
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2answers
355 views
Can small planes see lights on the ground?
I live about 5 miles from a small airport. At night, during rain or snow storms when I imagine there would be poor visibility, I always turn our outside house lights on, in case they could possibly ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
When the winds aloft are light and variable, what wind direction and speed should I use for flight planning?
What do you input in a navlog for wind direction and velocity, when the wind and temp forecast says 9900+18? I know 9900 means light and variable winds less than 5kts but how do I determine the ...
2
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1answer
205 views
Where can I find the German GAFOR online?
Where can I access the GAFOR for Germany for free online (or at least something close)?
0
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1answer
109 views
Weather Reporting of wind direction [duplicate]
General weather reporting for wind direction in Australian Standard the degrees in wind direction identifies where the wind is coming from.
Is it the same around the world?
3
votes
1answer
345 views
In an ATIS broadcast, is the visibility in statute or nautical miles?
I think I remember seeing somewhere that since it's an observation at the surface, statute miles are used for the visibility. Would be nice if someone had a reference.
21
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3answers
3k views
Was ATC overstepping its boundaries when advising a pilot to ignore a cell warning?
I found a clip on YouTube (via an article on Jalopnik) of an Aer Lingus pilot departing from JFK. Due to a weather cell showing up on his instruments, he can not make the left ATC asks him to make.
...
13
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1answer
3k views
Why is the flight duration of the same flight different in different months? [duplicate]
For example:
CX880 (HKG TO LAX) takes 13h40m on the 2nd of August, but only takes 12h50m in September.
CI008 (TPE TO LAX) is the same; it takes half an hour less in September than in August.
What ...
24
votes
3answers
4k views
How do hot air balloons navigate?
Hot air balloons are quite obviously carried along with the wind, so how can they be navigated? Choosing the correct launch point relative to the desired landing point would seem to play a major part ...
2
votes
0answers
46 views
Can a weather forecast tell me if airplanes will leave long contrails? [duplicate]
Training 7 ball and 5 club juggling requires me to look up into the sky for durations of up to one minute. Frequently, this is very taxing on my eyes and, frustratingly, requires me to wear sunglasses....
0
votes
1answer
170 views
What does this wind symbol mean? [duplicate]
At https://www.aviationweather.gov on the Forecasts puldown, then the Aviation Forecasts selection, the chart opens and often shows what looks like a letter R with a tail in the lower right, in ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Icing conditions temperature range: SAT or TAT?
Considering the general rule of thumb defining potential icing conditions: temperature between +10 and -40 degrees C and presence of visible moisture,
is the temperature range regarding TAT (total ...
3
votes
1answer
346 views
Why were these Hawkeyes flying in a circular pattern?
A couple of months ago I was near the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, when I saw 3 or 4 planes flying in a tight circular pattern. The planes were on the larger side, prop driven and had large ...
2
votes
1answer
470 views
Why does GR mean hail in a METAR?
Wouldn't you think they'd choose HL instead?
That might confuse pilots who frequently see SS (Sandstorms),
DS (Dust Storms) and VA (Volcanic Ash).
0
votes
1answer
969 views
What API can I use to get FAA NOTAMS or will this one I found work?
I am not sure if this is the correct place to ask this because it has to do with APIs with XML/JSON/SOAP, but it also has to do with aviation.
I am in dire need to find an API associated with the FAA ...
0
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1answer
73 views
What to do when moisture forms on the helicopter's canopy in a weather front?
Moisture has condensed on the canopy of your helicopter as you fly through a weather front – what should you do?
2
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1answer
121 views
What does “RA” mean in the FAA Terminal Constraints?
I'm trying to interpret the Terminal Constraints listed on the Operations Plan Advisory (https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp). RA seems to be used in the context of weather, but I haven't been ...
3
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1answer
532 views
What do these numbers and symbols on the ICAO SIGMET chart represent?
Anybody who can identify the numbers and alphabets in the red, green, and purple circles on the chart above?
1
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1answer
136 views
How can I find out what time an airport was closed due to weather?
Where do I find at what time an airport was closed, due to inclement weather, on a specific date? I completed the first leg of my flight, which was one hour from take-off to landing. When I arrived in ...
